Running (almost) on Empty

Once I got home yesterday, I had one of those Boca Burgers, which are really good. Had some of my favorite yogurt, Stonyfield Farm, and then watched a bit of t.v. while I digested. Then Mr. J and I went to the park for our evening walk/run. I'm building back up o.k. I guess, i'm putting my emphasis on the walking, but running when I feel up to it. I ran about 1 1/8 miles and i'm sure walked around 2.5 or 3. The thing about running is that I have this (i'm sure 95%) mental thing that I think I cannot do well at it, but once I do some running, I feel so great afterwards. Running gives you this great rush of adrenaline, a "runner's high" if you will... I really want to do more of it and get over the stigma that I can't. But i'm proud of any progress I make, that wasn't so bad... I gotta think more and more positive. Sometimes it's tough though.

Well, in the news... We had a visitor this week here near Memphis, now that's not abnormal I guess seeing as there are a few attractions in our city, but this one wasn't human... it's a Florida Manatee. I haven't read extensively about the whole thing just yet, but I did run across the following article Here at 'The Post-Star':

[ Memphis--James Jackson and his buddy Andre Peeples reeled in a little more than they hoped for while fishing Sunday afternoon. "I was just sitting on the barge and this half a mountain, half a car just floated right by," Jackson says.

It is no mountain, or car. "Long head, knots all over. Thought it was an alligator or crocodile," Peeples says. It's the kind of thing you just have to see to believe. And we get a good look up above from News Chopper Three. A manatee swimming in the fresh waters of the Wolf River Harbor on Mud Island. "I couldn't do anything for about 15 minutes. (Reporter) Scary? (Jackson) Scary," Jackson says.

Manatees aren't from around here. They like the warm waters of Florida and Brazil. Authorities believe at 8 to 10 feet, this big boy made his way up the Mississippi River by way of Louisiana. Even Memphis Zoo curators can't believe the sea cow is so far from home. "No, I was pretty surprised, complete shock," Andy Kouba says.

Authorities with the the U-S Coast Guard, Tennessee Department of Wildlife, and Memphis Zoo spent most of the afternoon monitoring the sea mammal, while spectators tried to get a glimpse. They even tried to feed him a couple founds of cabbage, just to see if he'd bite. They also want to keep him safe until they find out what they should do with him.

Authorities here do believe he's a strong manatee, stong enough to survive the cooler temps here. They will be back here Tuesday morning to see if he is still here, but they think he may just swim back south on his own.

They're also still waiting on direction from the feds since this is a threatened species. ]